The Decanter Power List 2013

12 Yang Wenhua (–)Managing director, C&D Wines, 43C&D Wines is the beverage arm of the huge C&D conglomerate, one of the top 100 Chinese listed companies. Yang started C&D Wines in 1998, transforming it from a grain spirit distributor into China’s biggest wine importer. Organised into 44 business divisions covering every Chinese province, it brings in 12 million bottles a year. In 2009 C&D secured agencies from 13 Bordeaux cru classés, cementing these in 2010 with listings of the five first growths. It may dominate Chinese imports, but there rocky times loom as the market softens and China’s government clamps down on the lucrative gifting market. C&D Wines saw profits rise 4.6% in the first quarter of 2013, but growth is slowing: the company lost CNY150m (US$24.2m) in the first quarter of 2013. But as the government cracks down on corruption and fakes, it expects more high-end foreign producers to enter the Chinese market; when they do, C&D will be there to help.

Latest poll

You may have heard of a new wine gadget selling for just under US$300 called 'Coravin' which claims to allow wine to be tasted multiple times from the same bottle without ever removing the cork. Are you...

Intrigued. It sounds like a great idea and I would be interested in buying one (1263 vote, 29%)

Cautious, I would have to see it in action before I made my mind up (1239 vote, 28%)

Sceptical, I wouldn't risk it with my old and rare vintages (687 vote, 16%)

Not interested - if I want a glass of wine I'll just open the bottle (1179 vote, 27%)